Following the team with a unique perspective on all things Phillies.Email me: PhilliesPhollowers@comcast.net – Peace, Love & Baseball – Jenn

Results tagged ‘ Jeremy Slayden ’

Cole Hamels had his second outing of spring yesterday against the Reds in a 8-4 loss.Looking a bit un-Cole like, he gave up 2 runs on 2 hits and one homer in 2 2/3 innings.After the game, Hamels told Comcast SportsNet that “the fastball’s not there” and that his changeup “doesn’t really have that deception that it normally has during the season.”Well, where ever those pitches are hiding, I hope he finds them before Opening Day.Maybe the new blonde highlights have gone to his head?Ok, so I am really not worried; but if he dyes his hair red next, I may have to consult a counselor.

And in Ryan Howard news, I have a Phillies Phollowers exclusive for you!Ryan got a new tattoo this week…what is it?You will have to stay tuned to find out; I am awaiting word on a photo.A friend of mine knows the guy who did the tattoo and brought her son to meet Howard while he was getting it done.Reportedly, Howard designed the new ink himself.And I am guessing it brought him luck, as Howard went 2 for 3 with a solo home run in yesterday’s game against the Reds.And the ink news continues: Brett Myersgot a new tattoo of his ownthis week.Will it bring him luck as well?

The luck does appear to have rubbed off on Jason Donald, who is on fire at the plate suddenly!Donald went 3 for 4 in the game which he played at 3rd base and has brought his spring average to .320 with 8 hits in 25 at-bats, 6 walks and 2 RBI.If he keeps this pace up, he may be a shoe-in to fill in for Pedro Feliz or Chase Utley if they are not ready for Opening Day.Plus, he is adorable and very friendly.I give out extra points for those qualities :O)

Speaking of Utley, here is what he had to tell Comcast SportsNet yesterday about the progress of his recovery:

Chris Coste, who has been nursing an injury, played a few innings yesterday and looked like he was feeling good.Also getting back to form, Chad Durbin, Brad Lidge and Feliz are expected to see their first spring action tomorrow at 1:05pm against the Atlanta Braves.

And the sad news of the day; six Phillies rookies were sent to the minors yesterday;pitcher Yorman Bazardo; infielders Ozzie Chavez, Anthony Hewitt and Terry Tiffee; and outfielders Jeremy Slayden and Chris Walker.This narrows down the roster a bit.I wish them all good luck!

WBC Highlights

Team Italy beat out Team Canada yesterday, knocking them out of the classic.Looks like Matt Stairs will return to the Phillies shortly.Later today, Italy will play Venezuela to see who will face Team USA tomorrow.Personally, as an Italian-American, I am voting for an Italy-USA match-up.Of course, I may have just doomed Italy to failure by stating that… :O)

The Phillies powered past the Blue Jays in Dunedin today by a score of 12-7.Ryan Howard provided some pop with a 2 run homer in the 6th inning and rookie Jeremy Slayden added a home run of his own while going 2 for 5 with 2 RBI.Raul Ibanez and Eric Bruntlett also collected 2 RBI a piece.Photos:Charlie Manuel slaps hands with the fans; Bruntlett makes a running grab;Ibanez gets a hit:

The Pitching Duel

Carlos Carrasco and JA Happ continued the battle for the 5th starter position today; advantage: Happ.Happ went 3 innings with 3 hits and 2 runs surrendered.Carrasco, on the other hand, struggled in the 5th inning, ultimately giving up 5 runs on 3 hits, 2 of which were homers.Only 3 of the runs were earned due to an error on a dropped fly ball by Bruntlett. Overall, Happ had better control and poise on the mound, where Carrasco’s inexperience showed a bit.Still, Happ needs to work on keeping the ball down.Also pitching today, former Cincinnati Red, Gary Majewski who made it through 2 scoreless innings.

More Highlights

Ibanez and Howard celebrate after Howard’s 2-run shot; Miguel Cairo makes an amazing play on a short grounder; Ibanez demonstrates his lack of grace while sliding into home:

Wildlife Meets Baseball

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Left:This sunbather clearly did not get the memo about the 55 degree temperatures in Western Florida today.Bottom Left:This behind belongs to a man who proposed to his girlfriend during the game.He did not own a pair of non-holey jeans for this special occasion?Right:Baseball lights put to good use: Birds make a home in Dunedin Stadium.

And that brings us to the Photo of the Day:I did mention the Phillies won by a score of 12-7, right?The Blue Jays staff, apparently, thought wishing makes it so; check out the run total column.Is that 2 runs for the Phils, or possibly 12?Hmmmmm…

The Phillies are OFF tomorrow!Next game, Wednesday, 1:05pm against Team Canada at Bright House field.Cole Hamels is scheduled to start.See you there!

The Phillies lost their Spring Training home opener today to the Blue Jays, 6-2.This makes 2 straight losses to open the pre-season; World Series hangover perhaps?The big boys like Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez went 0-3, each leaving 2 men on base, and the only two runs scored were knocked in by Jimmy Rollins and Greg Dobbs who each went 1-3.Carlos Carrasco and JA Happ began the pitching duel today, battling it out for the 5th starter position.Both pitched two scoreless innings with only Happ giving up a hit; although Carrasco was helped out by John Mayberry in right field who used his 6’5″ frame to scale the wall and snag what was surely a home run shot.Here is Mayberry making the catch along with another shot of him getting hit by a pitch; below that, you will see Jeremy Slayden playing a ball off the centerfield wall.

In other great pitching news, Gary Majewski, previously of the Reds, pitched two scoreless innings as well.But much like yesterday’s game, two other pitchers gave the game away for the Phillies; Justin Lehr gave up 2 back to back home runs in his one inning of work and Blaine Neal gave up 4 runs in only 2/3 of an inning.

More encouraging was the play of rookie Mayberry and Jason Ellison, a 6-year veteran previously with the Rangers.Ellison got a hit in the 3rd inning and proceeded to steal second base:

Also on the ball today was 3rd baseman Mike Cervenak, who helped save a hit by making a great play on a ball that took a nasty short hop.Cervenak also drew a walk in his only at-bat.Here he is making the catch and also trying to break up a double play that Jeremy Slayden hit into:

Although the Phillies have dropped the first two games, keep in mind that at this point in Spring Training, less emphasis is placed on winning games and more on examining rookies and deciding who will make the final roster.So, not to worry Phillies fans!

In other news for the worriers, you will be happy to know that prior to the game, Chase Utley took batting practice on the field.He took some light swings and looked like he was not too far from seeing game action.Also before the game, Army air paratroopers parachuted into the stadium, one of them carrying the World Series flag which was then hung in the stadium.And that is our Picture of the Day:

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